Lokhande Prashant Sitaram IAS appointed as Additional Secretary- MHA
Shri Lokhande Prashant Sitaram IAS (AGMUT 2001) presently Chairperson- Central Board of Secondary Education, Ministry of Education has been appointed as Additional Secretary- Department of Home, Ministry of Home Affairs with additional charge of the post of Chairperson- Central Board of Secondary Education, Ministry of Education by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
Who is IAS Lokhande Prashant Sitaram | Shri Lokhande Prashant Sitaram is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 2002 batch from the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre. With over two decades of distinguished public service, he has built an impressive administrative career spanning education, internal security, economic affairs, planning, petroleum, urban administration, and district governance. His wide-ranging experience across state, central, and international assignments reflects a deep understanding of public policy and institutional leadership.
Presently, Shri Lokhande serves as the Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), having assumed office on June 2, 2026. Holding the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India, he leads one of the country’s premier educational institutions responsible for school education, curriculum development, examinations, and academic reforms. As Chairperson, he is entrusted with steering CBSE’s efforts towards enhancing the quality of school education, promoting innovation in learning, strengthening assessment systems, and supporting the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP). His appointment reflects the Government’s confidence in his administrative capabilities and his extensive experience in policy formulation.
Immediately before assuming charge of CBSE, Shri Lokhande briefly served as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, where he contributed to matters concerning internal administration and national governance. Prior to his elevation, he was Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs from January 2023 to March 2026. During this period, he was associated with key policy initiatives and administrative coordination in one of the Government of India’s most important ministries, handling assignments that required strategic planning, inter-agency coordination, and effective policy execution.
Before joining the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri Lokhande served as Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Finance, Planning and Investment, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. In this senior leadership role, he played an important part in policy planning, resource allocation, developmental strategy, and implementation of key government programmes. His tenure reflected a balanced approach to financial management and long-term development planning, supporting the state’s socio-economic growth.
One of the defining phases of his career was his international assignment as Counsellor (Economics) at the Embassy of India in Beijing from 2016 to 2020. Representing India in a key diplomatic posting, he dealt with economic affairs, bilateral trade, investment, and commercial cooperation. The assignment provided him with valuable international exposure and strengthened his understanding of global economic trends, international policy, and strategic economic engagement.
Earlier, Shri Lokhande served in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, first as Deputy Secretary and subsequently as Director. In these roles, he was involved in policy matters concerning the energy sector, including petroleum administration, natural gas development, and energy security. His contributions came during a period of significant policy evolution in India’s hydrocarbon sector, providing him with valuable experience in one of the country’s most strategically important ministries.
He also served as Private Secretary to the Union Minister for Food Processing Industries and later Private Secretary to the Union Minister for Agriculture and Cooperation. These assignments enabled him to work closely with senior political leadership, contributing to policy coordination, programme implementation, and decision-making across sectors vital to India’s agricultural and food processing economy.
At the state level, Shri Lokhande has held several important administrative positions in Arunachal Pradesh. As Secretary, Department of Planning, he contributed to developmental planning, policy formulation, and implementation of state development programmes. His tenure focused on strengthening planning mechanisms and supporting sustainable development initiatives across the state.
His district administration experience includes serving as Deputy Commissioner in Arunachal Pradesh, where he supervised revenue administration, law and order, developmental activities, disaster management, and implementation of welfare programmes. These assignments provided him with extensive grassroots administrative experience and strengthened his understanding of governance at the field level.
Earlier in his career, Shri Lokhande served as Sub-Divisional Officer and Assistant Commissioner, laying a strong foundation in district administration, land revenue management, and public service delivery. These formative assignments enabled him to develop practical administrative skills while working closely with local communities and government institutions.
He also served as Deputy Commissioner in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, where he gained valuable exposure to urban governance, municipal administration, civic services, and metropolitan management. The assignment further broadened his administrative experience across diverse governance environments.
Academically, Shri Lokhande possesses an excellent educational background that complements his administrative expertise. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Mechanical Engineering from the Government College of Engineering, Pune University, graduating with First Class with Distinction. He subsequently completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering from the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai, securing First Division. His strong technical and management education has equipped him with analytical capabilities and a systematic approach to problem-solving, qualities that have been evident throughout his public service career.
Over more than two decades in the civil services, Shri Lokhande Prashant Sitaram has demonstrated exceptional versatility by successfully managing assignments across education, internal security, economic diplomacy, planning, petroleum, urban administration, and district governance. His blend of technical expertise, policy experience, and administrative leadership has enabled him to contribute meaningfully to governance at both the state and national levels.
As Chairperson of CBSE, he is expected to play an important role in shaping the future of school education in India by promoting academic excellence, innovation, and institutional reforms. His distinguished administrative journey reflects a steadfast commitment to public service, responsive governance, and institutional development.
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Indian Bureaucracy News wishes Shri Lokhande Prashant Sitaram the very best.